smoke-ball

Definitions

from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

n. Milit., a spherical case filled with a composition which, while burning, emits a great quantity of smoke: used chiefly for purposes of concealment or for annoying an enemy's workmen in siege operations.

n. A ball, used in trap-shooting, which on being struck emits a cloud of dark smoke.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Examples

This smoke-ball being dropped over the position leaves a trail of black or whitish smoke according to the climatic conditions which prevail, the object being to enable the signal to be picked up with the greatest facility.

Congratulating himself upon his sharp eyesight, he returns to his base with the intelligence that he has found the enemy's guns he indicates their position upon the map, and in some cases returns to notify the position of the weapons by smoke-ball or tinsel, when they are immediately subjected to a severe bombardment.